squabble

1 of 2

noun

squab·​ble ˈskwä-bəl 

: a noisy altercation or quarrel usually over petty matters

squabble

2 of 2

verb

squabbled; squabbling ˈskwä-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

: to quarrel noisily and usually over petty matters

squabbler

ˈskwä-b(ə-)lər 

noun

Synonyms of squabble

Noun

• dispute
• quarrel
• altercation
• bicker
• disagreement
• controversy
• fight
• argument
• brawl

Verb

• bicker
• argue
• fight
• quarrel
• spat

Choose the Right Synonym for squabble

quarrel, wrangle, altercation, squabble mean a noisy dispute usually marked by anger.

quarrel implies heated verbal contention, stressing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.

a quarrel nearly destroyed the relationship

wrangle suggests undignified and often futile disputation with a noisy insistence on differing opinions.

wrangle interminably about small issues

altercation implies fighting with words as the chief weapon, although it may also connote blows.

a loud public altercation

squabble stresses childish and unseemly dispute over petty matters, but it need not imply bitterness or anger.

a brief squabble over what to do next

Examples of squabble in a Sentence

Noun

frightened by noise of the squabble, the cat hid under the couch

Verb

The children were squabbling over the toys.

the children squabbled loudly over who got to play with the toy first

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Space multiple feeders out of sight to avoid hummingbird squabbles. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026

Babcock, 76, has come a long way from early 1970s Philadelphia Inquirer scribe to renowned Dallas attorney, but his extensive sports roots uniquely qualify him as the Mavericks’ lead counsel in their legal squabble with the Stars. —Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026

Verb

That’s not because its member countries have suddenly stopped squabbling or its bureaucratic inertia has melted away. —Joseph De Weck, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026

Let the peasants squabble amongst themselves about the refs and how unfair life is. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect skvabbel dispute

First Known Use

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for squabble

• bauble
• cobble
• gobble
• hobble
• labile
• wobble
• cantabile

Kids Definition

squabble

1 of 2 noun

squab·​ble ˈskwäb-əl 

: a noisy quarrel usually over unimportant things

squabble

2 of 2 verb

squabbled; squabbling ˈskwäb-(ə-)liŋ 

: to quarrel noisily for little or no reason : wrangle

squabbler

-(ə-)lər 

noun